Dear Coach series – Making the most of your time

Dear coach,

At the moment I’m juggling lots of different things which all contribute towards our household income. I love doing all that I do but I’m finding more and more that my days aren’t as productive as they could be. I have gaps in my day when I could be working but I’m finding myself not actually achieving anything and then I’m feeling disappointed in myself. I guess my question is about how can i make the most out of the time i have available to work to actually get the best out of my time!

Dear friend,

It sounds like you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself. You have so much to juggle, you feel disappointed when you don’t meet your own expectations.

Taking time for ourselves each day is important and can have huge benefits in our productivity. Before beginning your working day or when you feel like you are getting distracted, try spending 5 to 10 minutes in mediation first. It helps to clear the mind and remove worries, allowing you to think clearly. Spend a few minutes writing down what comes to mind or where you would like to set your intention for that day. Instead of working on what you feel you ought to do, think about what you can achieve for your clients. What one task will help you to achieve that today?

Be honest when putting pressure on yourself, on the reasons why you are avoiding tasks. When you find yourself putting off a task, ask yourself why you are avoiding it. For example, ‘I should be promoting my business and working on my marketing.’ When we ask with honesty why, it could become ‘I could work on my marketing but I don’t feel confident in myself. I don’t know what I’m doing and I’m worried I’m going to be wasting my time.’ When we get to the real reasons behind our avoidance, it gives us the awareness to solve the issue.

It’s easy to focus on what you need to do and what’s outstanding. Feeling overwhelmed does not help with productivity. Be sure to write down regularly in a diary what you have achieved each day. Then when you are feeling disappointed, you can refer back to it to see how far you have come. Feel proud of your achievements and celebrate your successes.

Use the affirmation regularly ‘I take great joy and delight in completing my work.’

Finally remember to take time regularly for yourself. Be honest with yourself why you feel like you need to be busy all the time. Do you feel guilty for taking time for yourself? Be willing to let go of any guilt that you are not doing enough or not meeting your expectations. You are enough as you are.